TODAY’S GAME: This afternoon, the Bisons host the Lehigh Valley IronPigs in the final game of a four-game series from Coca-Cola Field (12:05 p.m.). The Herd is 3-4 so far on its eight-game homestand that started with a split of a four-game set with Rochester. Following today’s game, Buffalo returns to the road for an eight-game trip to Rochester and Lehigh Valley.

VS. IRONPIGS: The Bisons need a victory today to earn a split of their four-game series against the IronPigs. Lehigh Valley has won two straight games to take a 2-1 lead in the series. The Herd has won nine of its last 13 games against the IronPigs, including a 6-3 record in the last nine played at Coca-Cola Field.

NOTHING NIEU: Two doubles from OF KIRK NIEUWENHUIS yesterday allowed the outfielder to extend his hit streak to an International League-best 14 games. It’s the longest streak for a Bisons since INF JAVIER CASTILLO hit in 16 straight in 2009. Nieuwenhuis has averaged .388 (19-49) since the streak began on April 11. Nieuwenhuis is the only player in the International League to have reached base in all of his team’s games (18).

HEY, MR. D.J.: Following their game yesterday, the Mets optioned RHP D.J. CARRASCO to the Bisons. The 34-year old righty was 0-1 with a 5.23ERA in seven games and one start for New York. Carrasco will work in the Herd rotation once he joins the team.

BULLY FOR THE PEN: LHP JUSTIN HAMPSON pitched a 1-2-3 inning in relief on Sunday. The southpaw now sports a 1.17ERA over his first seven appearances on the year. Hampson has not allowed an extra-base hit this season and is holding opponents to a .143 average. He has not allowed any of his four inherited runners to score and has retired the first batter he has faced in six of his seven appearances.

BISON BITS: All eight position players had a hit in yesterday’s game…After starting the season 0-17, INF LUIS HERNANDEZ has five hits in his last 14 at-bats (.357) as part of a four-game hit streak…The Bisons have split the first three series of the 2011 season that they have played at Coca-Cola Field.

METS UPDATE: The Mets (9-13) completed a three-game sweep of the Diamondbacks with a 6-4 win over Arizona on Sunday. Former Bisons OF JASON PRIDIE collected his first major league home run and INF DAVID WRIGHT clubbed a pair of longballs. The Mets are off today before facing the Nationals in Washington tomorrow.

Links

Categories

The following are trademarks or service marks of Major League Baseball entities and may be used only with permission of Major League Baseball Properties, Inc. or the relevant Major League Baseball entity: Major League, Major League Baseball, MLB, the silhouetted batter logo, World Series, National League, American League, Division Series, League Championship Series, All-Star Game, and the names, nicknames, logos, uniform designs, color combinations, and slogans designating the Major League Baseball clubs and entities, and their respective mascots, events and exhibitions.